Automobile body construction



Aug. 26, 1941. E. G. slMPsoN 2,253,818

AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 17, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR 'EY Aug. 26, 1941. E. G. snvlPsQN AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 17, 1940 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I |||llll ATTORNEY5.

All@ 26 1941- E. G. slMPsoN 2,253,818

AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTI ON Filed May 17, 1940 5 'sheets-sheet 3 lNvENToR. E770/Pr 6AM .fm/050m ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Aug. 26, 1941 AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION Emory Glenn Simpson, Detroit, Mich., assgnor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,730

6 Claims.

This invention relates to metal body construction and has particularly to do with the weatherproong of the rear quarter window. Ventilation is now quite commonly obtained at the rear quarter window by a rearwardly sliding panel. This panel slides rearwardly a short distance often with the aid of a window regulator and for the purpose of affording an opening at the front of the panel to give ventilation. It has been found that snow, water, dust, etc. are often driven into the space which is aorded at the rear of the window opening to allow the retreat of the window.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an adequate window pocket and catch basin to prevent water driving in here and draining onto the inside walls of the car so as to stain the upholstery.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of one side wall of the car showing one form of the pocket and the basin in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the rear inside quarter with the wall broken away showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the catch basin or trough shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

The form shown in Fig. 4 will be rst described. Below the rear quarter window opening I is located a basin 2, which is shown in perspective in Fig. 5. This basin has a turned out ilange 3 which can be spot-welded to the turned out flange 4 below the window opening on the inside quarter panel 5. An upper ilange 'I is welded to the turned in flange 8 of the outer rear quarter panel 9 (see Fig. 6) and the basin is welded to the stamping I4. This stamping has a flange I6 which is spot-welded to the inside panel 5. This forms a substantially weather-tight window pocket. A drain pipe III is provided at one end of the basin or gutter 2. This gutter or basin 2 extends a considerable distance to the rear of the window opening I (as is shown in Fig. 4) so as to catch any water that may drain down from the window pocket.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, a stamped piece of metal forming in part the basin and a part of the window pocket is used. This stamping is designated II and it has a turned out flange I2 which extends all around the window opening (as shown in Fig. 1) and is welded to the inner panel 5. It also has a flange I3 which is welded to the flange I4 which the outer quarter panel I5 has at the rear quarter window opening (see Fig. 2). A Z-section cross brace Il serves to brace the stamping with respect to the inner quarter panel 5. The stamping, combined with the inner panel 5, forms both the window pocket and the catch basin. A drain pipe I8 is used to conduct the water to a place where it may be discharged.

What I claim is:

1. In an automobile body, the combination of outer and inner metal panels forming a rear quarter window opening adapted to have a window panel slidable rearwardly therein and partially withdrawing into a window pocket between the outer and inner quarter panels, a stamping at the rear and above the window opening serving as part of and weatherproofing said pocket and a catch basin and drain located below the window opening and the window pocket.

2. In an automobile body, the combination of outer and inner rear quarter panels forming a rear quarter window opening adapted to have a rearwardly and forwardly sliding window panel which can partially withdraw rearwardly intov a window pocket between the said panels, a stamping at the rear and partway above said window opening serving as part of and weatherproong said pocket and a catch basin or gutter spotwelded to the inner panel.

3. In an automobile body, the combination of outer and inner rear quarter panels provided with window openings and a window pocket at the rear of the window opening for a sliding window panel which is adapted to close said window opening or partially withdraw into said pocket, a stamping at the rear of and above said window opening and welded to the inner rear quarter panel and serving as part of and to aid in weatherpr-ooilng said pocket and a catch basin located below the window opening and the pocket and welded to the outer and inner quarter panels.

4. In an automobile body, the combination of a pair of rear quarter panels formed with aligned openings* to form the rear quarter window opening adapted to have a slidable Window panelV and a stamping having an out turned ange welded to the inner rear quarter panel to form along the top, the rear andthe bottom of the window opening a window pocket and a catch basin.

5. In an automobile body, the combination of a pair of rear quarter panels formed with aligned openings to form the rear quarter window opening adap-ted to have a slidable window panel in said opening and a stamping having an out turned iiange Welded to the inner rear quarter panel to form along the top, the rear and the bottom of the Window opening a Window pocket and a catch basin, and a drain for discharging the Water at the bottom of the basin.

6. In an automobile body, the combination of outer and inner rear quarter panels with aligned window openings forming the rear quarter Window and arranged for a sliding panel sliding' forwardly and rearwardly and a stamping having a Iturned out ange spot-welded to the inner rear quarter panel around but spaced from Jthe window opening to form a Window pocket and catch basin, the said stamping also having a ilange Welded to the outer rear quarter panel along the Window opening.

EMORY GLENN SIMPSON. 

